Reef Guardian

Home
Malaysia
Sandakan
Reef Guardian

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

A non-profit company appointed by the State Government of Sabah to manage Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA).

Reef Guardian was appointed by the State Government of Sabah in 2004 to fully manage SIMCA with close cooperation with Sabah Wildlife Department. Our objectives are:
- to protect and/or restore coral reef and seagrass beds by reducing human impacts;
- to protect nesting, breeding and foraging ground of sea turtles;
- to monitor environmental changes through long term monitoring;
- to promote marine conservation through education and eco-tourism activities;
- to enforce a strict no-take zone by eliminating fishing activities within SIMCA;
- to establish firm working relationship with Sabah Wildlife Department and other national or international institutions or agencies for the protection of marine biodiversity; and
- to utilize eco-tourism as a mean of achieving sustainable funding for SIMCA management.

01/08/2026

When people think of Reef Guardian, they often picture sea turtles, coral reefs, marine life, and conservation activities.

But conservation starts with PROTECTION.

Since the beginning of SIMCA’s operations, enforcement has been the backbone of protecting its marine ecosystems. Our Enforcement Team conducts regular sea patrols to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive fishing practices, and other unauthorized activities within SIMCA.

Led by Honorary Wildlife Wardens appointed by the Sabah Wildlife Department, the team plays a vital role in protecting SIMCA and ensuring its reefs and marine life continue to thrive.

Protecting a marine protected area is not only about restoring what has been damaged, it is also about preventing threats before they happen.

Because healthy reefs need more than restoration.
They need protection.

16/06/2026

From 2-5 June 2026, Leony Sikim represented Reef Guardian at the International Symposium on National Park Management and Effectiveness in Taiwan.

During the symposium, she shared the management practices and IUCN Green List journey of SIMCA, which achieved Green List certification in 2022.

The programme also included field visits to Shei-Pa National Park and Yangmingshan National Park, providing opportunities to exchange experiences and gather feedback from fellow protected area and MPA managers.

30/05/2026

From 15–17 May 2026, our Chief Enforcement Officer, Mr. Edwin represented Reef Guardian as an invited speaker during the opening ceremony of the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Malaysian Women Tourist Guides Association, held in Kuala Lumpur.

Drawing from his working experience in marine conservation for almost two decades, especially in enforcing the no-take zone within SIMCA, Mr. Edwin shared insights on protecting coral reefs from destructive fishing methods and other human interventions.

We sincerely thank the organisers for the invitation and the opportunity to share our conservation efforts during the event.

18/05/2026

Our team has been carrying out several dives to remove COTs from different reef sites around Lankayan Island this month. So far, more than 300 individuals have been removed, and monitoring efforts will continue at other reef areas to help prevent outbreaks.

COTs are naturally present on coral reefs, but outbreaks can cause serious damage as they feed on live corals. To prevent this, regular monitoring and early removal efforts are important.

14/05/2026

Billion Baby Turtles supports sea turtle conservation organizations working on the ground around the world to protect hatchlings.

Funds go directly toward paying local residents to patrol key nesting beaches, protect turtles that come ashore to nest, safeguard their eggs, and help guide hatchlings safely to the sea.

In 2025, we reached a major milestone—over 20 million hatchlings saved!

One of our partners, Reef Guardian in Malaysia, works to protect not just nesting beaches, but also important foraging and feeding grounds. Their efforts include protecting and restoring coral reef and seagrass habitats by reducing direct human impacts, among other conservation goals.

Learn more: https://www.reefguardian.com.my/about-us/about-reef-guardian/the-organisation

Photos: Reef Guardian

13/03/2026

Yesterday we conducted our annual capacity building session with the team. We shared knowledge, refreshed our skills and celebrate staff who showed great work over the past year..

FYI, our team consists of 12 dedicated staff who manage and conserve three islands in the Sugud Island Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) 😊

24/12/2025

Merry Christmas from our team to yours 🎄🎄
Here’s to spreading joy, hope and care for the world ❤️

23/09/2025

Last August, our team joined the MERMAID (Marine Ecological Research Management Aid) training at Lankayan Island, conducted by

MERMAID is a digital tool that helps researchers and conservationists collect, manage, and share coral reef data worldwide.

Throughout the course, we took part in classroom sessions and hands-on exercises on how to gather data and key it into the MERMAID database.

Excited to apply what we have learned to protect the reefs!

16/04/2025

It’s that time of the year again - when the reef comes alive at night 🌕

We recently documented coral spawning around 📍Lankayan Island, which usually occurs during full moon between March and May. During this event, coral colonies will release tiny eggs and s***m into the water. Spawning was observed in branching, encrusting, and digitate coral species. This natural phenomenon is important in reef regeneration.

21/03/2025

Recently, on March 19th, our team, with the assistance from the Lankayan Island Dive Resort, has successfully remove around 192 kg of ghost net tangled in one of the reefs on Lankayan Island. During the process, we discovered three sea turtles trapped in the net, but sadly only their bones remained.

For your information, lost or abandoned fishing nets will continue to trap and kill marine life, and further threatening their ecosystem.

Address

Sandakan

Telephone

+6089278002

Website

http://www.reefguardian.com.my/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Reef Guardian posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Reef Guardian:

Want your organization to be the top-listed non profit organization in Sandakan?